It
claims that people need increased flexibility over how they work at different
stages of their lives; far better statutory minimum notice; strengthened
entitlements to references and an end to harsh ‘restraint’ contract clauses
meant to protect their previous companies’ trade secrets.

The
report calls for a number of legislative changes to ‘customise’ employment
contracts for modern conditions.

These
include a legal entitlement for employees to change the terms of their
contracts for domestic or personal reasons.

The
Industrial Society also believes employees should be entitled to a fair and
reasonable reference as an integral part of the employment contract.

Yvonne
Bennion, co-author of the report, said, “We often take our employment contracts
for granted and don’t check them until it’s too late.The contract terms really matter when the chips are down.”